About and Highlights
Florian Borstlap (NL, 1983).
I am a multi-disciplined artist and former merchant sailor with an extensive portfolio ranging from boundary-pushing theater concepts such as ‘The Performance Bar’ and 'Pop-up Studio' to fine art projects like 'Dutch Snack Art' and 'The Entity of ZOON'. From a young age I travelled the world with my parents and quickly learned that a theatrical presence could give me what I needed to entertain and inspire people. This adventurous lifestyle continued when I became first mate on merchant ships, traveling the world and learning from different cultures, giving me insight and joy as well as unwaving work ethics, technical skills and independence. Between 2006 and 2019 I combined my nautical career with my artistic endeavors and I am now proudly a full-time artist and guest curator.
I embrace an absurdist approach to deconstruct and analyze social structures, striving to co-create performances and interactions that can be awkward yet fulfilling. My work method involves experimentation and improvisation, pushing the boundaries of human behavior and its aesthetics, all while keeping in mind the power of irony. Through my art I aim to stimulate utopian thinking* but above all inspire others, expressing my love of life and encouraging community involvement and diversity.
Courtesy: represented by Gallery Untitled
© photo by Iris Bergman
Contact
@ studioborstlap[at]gmail.com
📞 +316 465 521 02
LongList
scrol down for CV
2024: Guest teacher at Haags Montessori Lyceum: Power of Performance in Spoken Word
2024: BRUTUS, Unforeseen: Soundscape design and performance
2024: Museumnacht Rotterdam; Performance at DIRT Gallery at de Koopgoot
2024: Villa Zebra: Leren protesteren, workshop
2024: Rotterdam Art week; Opening new snackart.nl studio at Keilewerf
2023: Affordable Art Fair: www.snackart.nl
2023: North Sea Jazz: www.snackart.nl
2023: De Frituur Show: Gallery Cristels Ballroom Amsterdam: Group Expo
2023: Set design and construction of Organ Cart: collectief MAKTUB, O Festival
2023: Villa Zebra: Exhibition Utopian Designs
2023: Kunst Rai: www.snackart.nl
2023: Choreography for kids performance presented to Dutch Royal Family
2023: Art on Paper: www.snackart.nl
2023: Re-reveal of Public Art: Museum Nacht Rotterdam i.c.w. Jasper van den Berg
2023: Villa Zebra: Zie Jezelf i.c.w Onno Poiesz
2023-Ongoing: Under The Bridge Art Fair: co-founded with Maarten Bel
2023: Niet Rotterdam: Tour Guide of Disaster
2023: Willem de Kooning Academie: Guest Speaker; Art Apfeltschüss (performance)
2022: Winnaar pitch wedstrijd: Studio Binnenstad Gem. Amsterdam
2022: Affordable Art Fair: Guest curator an art critic 'Art Apfeltschüss' (performance)
2022: Pier15 SkatePark Breda: Is het Kunst of mag het Weg? Art auction
2022: Fringe meets Nederlands Theater Festival: Performance 'An awkward heeling by Solarium'
2022: Mannequin Mola Mola story: theatrical performance in Boys Won't Be Boys; Rikkert van Huisstede
2022: Is het Kunst of mag het Weg (into the dumpster or art?)
2022: Performance Delivery Service (COVID proof)
2021: The Treehouse Club; Weelde Rotterdam (made at summer residency)
2021: Frikadellen Wellness Experience
Democracy Realness i.c.w. Jasper van den Berg
2020 Muted in Motion (Non-speaking art happening)
2019 Tutorial DIY performance workshop
2019: The Performance Bed; De Parade
2019 Lolly Panic, Absurdist Modern Dance Performance
2019 Jerry Springer’s Dream; Performative Cocktail Night
2019 Costume and Set design: Poezie Boys: BONTE AEVOND, Zaal 3, Den Haag, [De Parade]
2019 Non performance (event)
2019 Pump up the puppetry (Museum night real life puppet show)
2019: STOP performance
2019 Theater Rotterdam: Grande Loge X The Performance Bar:
i.c.w: Tjon Rockon, Tommy Ventevogel
Ongoing: Mannequin Mola Mola, (Drag/Alter-ego)
2018: PFFF: Pan Flute Fantasy Festival
2018: Mingled Murder Mystery; interactive theatrical play
2018: Bcademie meets Art Apfeltschüss
2018: Under The Sea (event)
2018: Binge Bingo (game show)
2018: Meeting i.c.w. Ko de Kok: Charlois Speciaal (performance)
2018: Delivery performance Service (call show happening)
2018: The Awkward Award Show
2018: The Others Art Fair - Torino; The Performance Bar Art Show
2018: Museum Night R'dam; Don’t feed the artist, Art safari i.c.w Inge Aanstoot (happening)
2018: A healing by humanoid Solarium (performance)
2018: Welcome to The Village: Nachtprogramma; The Performance Bar int.
Ongoing The Darklord: Drill Instructor (Alter-ego)
2017: My seaman's life story (performance)
Ongoing: Art Apfeltschuss (Art Curator/Alter-ego)
2017: Surrealistic night event / Museum Booijmans van Beuningen
Ongoing: Pop de Dirigent (performance)
2016: The Pop-up recording Studio i.c.w. Ko de Kok, Shopping Mall 'Zuidplein'
2016: A Ritual Concerning Hate; Charlois Speciaal (performance)
2016: De Persconferentie: (performance)
2015: An Interpretation of Futuristic Pigment Rituals: Art Rotterdam
2015: The Performance Bed (interactive show)
2014: Performance Bar IK: Theaterfestival De Parade
2013: SOLO Roodkapje Rotterdam: Opening performance 'The becoming 'OF' ritual'
2013: Wereld van de Witte de With: Procession performance of The ZOON
2013 Teach workshops; Utopian Tools, KABK; Royal Academy of Art, The Hague
2013 Teach workshops; Philosophy with Children, Roodkapje Rotterdam.
2010-2012: Bond voor Wilde Dansers (happenings)
Education:
2009-10 Universität der Künste Berlin, Visual Arts Sculpture and artistic research into performance art in nightlife. Attended lectures from Prof. Olafur Eliasson and Prof. David Evison
2006-10 HBO, Visual Arts, Willem de Kooning Academy
Sculpture and ceramic techniques, idea development and artistic events
2005-06 HBO, Bachelor Maritime Management
Interim education
2000-05 MBO, Maritime Officer and Hydro Engineering, Maritime Academy, Concluded with a 365-day internship at sea.
Nominations and Grand:
2019 Nomination Podium Prize: Gieskes-Strijbis Fund [read the yuri report] As a nominee we received a cash prize with which I was able to finance various artistic projects.
2019/22 Performing Arts Fund | New Makers Grand [awarded via WORM] Substantial growth as a curator and performer, expanding network, participating in dedicated theater productions and performance art. Extensive progress in cultural entrepreneurship and artistic leadership.
Work experience:
Since 2010 Autonomous art practice: Highlights: performance art, pop-art, sculpture and ceramics (see selection Artistic Enterprises)
2016-2022 The Performance Bar at WORM Rotterdam: Founder and curator, program provided every weekend
Highlights: Berliner Festspiele - Berlin | Theater Rotterdam - Kapsalon | Paradiso Amsterdam / Joost van Bellen | MU Eindhoven | Paradiso Amsterdam / Joost van Bellen | The Others Artfair - Turin | Welcome to the Village - Leeuwarden Humber Street Gallery, Hull - England | Soma Gallery - Berlin | Motel Mozaique Sleep Location and Morning Rave | The Weelde - Rotterdam | Beate Uwe - Berlin | Club Sisyphos - Berlin | Club Bar - Rotterdam | Moyn Moyn - Germany | Beate Uwe - Berlin | IFFR - Rotterdam | Kiezburn - Germany and many others. The Préformance Bar - Live Stream,
Covid livestream: Video#1, Intervieuw: Video#2
Since 2020 Snackart.nl, pop-art art project that explores the cult experience of snacks. i.c.w. Ko de Kok Selected works are included in the art collection of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Nautical Career
2005-2019 Chief Mate; 14 years of experience in the merchant navy and towage as deputy to the captain
2000-2005 Ordinary sailor, during summer holidays while studying at the maritime college
Artistic Enterprises (selection):
2023 Villa Zebra, exhibition and performance presented to the Dutch Royal Family
2023 Cristels Ballroom Amsterdam: The Frituur Show–group exhibition with Koos Buster, Snackbarlife and more,
2021 Gallery Untitled; Artisan Snack Collection
2020 Galerie 158 Schiedam: group show–Patatjes Mayo,
2019 Motel Mozaique – sleep location and morning rave
2018 Berliner Festspiele, performance event
2018 De Parade: performance show, The Container Club
2017 SOMA Berlin: performance art event
2016 Pop-up Recording Studio: at shopping center Rotterdam Zuidplein – music album
2013 Roodkapje Rotterdam: SOLO, The Entity of ZOON, Read the published bookled, workproces blog
2010 Shanghai Biennale, China– International Student Show, in collaboration with Adriaan Rees
2010 Gallery BLAAK010 – best of the graduation, WdKa
2010 Dutch Design Week Eindhoven, best of graduation– Air-Bed-Sculpture
Guest lecturer and art education:
2023 Art education, Villa Zebra
2022 Willem de Kooning Academy; guest presentation performance art.
2017 Guest lecturer at the Bcademie
2013 Guest lecturer KABK The Hague: Utopian Tools
Other activities (selection):
2023 Co-founder, Under The Bridge Art Fair i.c.w. Maarten Bel
2023 Set design: MAKTUB, O festival
2021 Artist In Residence: Weelde Rotterdam
2019 Set and costume Design: Theater Zaal3, Show: Poezie Boys:
2019 Artist in Residence at Rimbun Dahan, Malaysia
2013 Independent ceramics project with Rob Ruimers
2010 Student Residency, Ceramics in Jingdezhen, China.
2008 Wild Dancers Union: Collective that promotes the unapologetic dance in nightlife